Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Slow, mellow guitar lead played on the low strings. This one is EASY to play! Guitar Lesson – EP541

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a slow and mellow (old Western sounding) lead using the lower (bass) strings. I’ll explain each note and where they come from, as well as the effects used to create the sound.

Guitar Lesson Video

Slow Walkthrough

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Comments

  11. David S says

    Brian, Started playing this one and the vibe just got to me.Easy to learn and having a lot of fun with it.Sounds good on Spark practice amp. Love it.Good change up Keep up the good work.
    Dave

  12. Rob N says

    Hi Brian, I appreciated the info on the gear being used. Could this become a regular feature, perhaps in the description – noting guitar, amp, any effects used etc.? I often see comments asking about gear – so it would be handy.

  17. Klaus N says

    Brian this is fantastic! I don’t have a Helix, but a Pod Go (which is a simpler model but has most of the amps and effects the helix has) and I really appreciate you sharing your tone settings with us! Thank you so much!

    BTW: Great sounding piece today, thanks for that as well!

    Cheers, Klaus

  21. Randy B says

    Hi Brian. Maybe I missed the theory on this, but the 5-chord is E whether you’re in A or Aminor. Can you explain that a bit further? In the composition, G is both sharp and natural depending on whether it’s being played with the C chord or the E. Is this because it just works, is there some theory behind this?

    Thank you very much.

    • Brian says

      Technically it’s an E minor chord if you’re in the key of Am – but in a minor key you can always make the 5 chord major and get a stronger sounding resolve to the one chord. It’s just a preference thing really.

  24. michael f says

    https://www.studybass.com/lessons/harmony/v-chords-in-minor-keys/

    This link tried to explain it. I was always curious when playing St James Infirmary in Aminor why the 5 chord was Emajor when that chord is not in the key.
    The explanation here lies in something about a leading tone in the 7th note and the tension it creates when it resolves to the 1 or tonic. The b7 note in Aminor
    scale is a whole step below AMinor and thus not as much of a tension chord. Moving the seventh note up one fret or half step adds more tension when it resolve to the Am chord

  25. mritalian says

    Hey Brian, Yeah, I was wondering just like Randy was asking wouldn’t that be an e minor in the natural minor scale? I always think of it as the C major scale but just starting on the A minor or relative minor of C. Anyways good lesson.

  32. James W says

    Hi Brian,

    Cool minor blues track. My favorite. This is a great track and demo to work on all the “follow the chord with caged positions” you have been teaching these last several weeks. This is mostly all on the low strings and frets, but the backing track really is a great tool to work on the concepts you have been teaching at an easy pace. My solos lately have so much more thought thanks to your instruction and inspiration, thanks for what you do.

  42. Mickey L says

    Brian that was the sound that I listened to when I was young, my dad loved country music. Listening to Chet Atkins and other greats made me what to learn to play guitar. Loved it,could use some more. Thanks

  44. Guy C says

    I was going to leave this weeks lesson alone as I have loads of episodes piling up in my favourites to complete but there is no way I can resist this, great tune and feel! Really looking forward to it …

  48. David S says

    Brian, Before long hope you can do Christmas Song so we can learn to play it well for friends & family gatherings.Short time to Thanksgiving.Not Long till Christmas season.Hope you are all clear of covid. Keep up the good work.Love all you explanations. Dave

  50. David R says

    Brian, i love your lessons !
    In fact, you are the reason i started playing guitar again after 30 years of not playing. Your technique of teaching intermediate to high intermediate guitar players is great. I use to coach wrestling, coach tennis, and was a tap dance teacher, so i do know something about teaching.
    I would like to ask you about how you get different tones on your guitar for various lesson. Example: i was reviewing “Up on the House Top” from last years lesson, and i cannot get the same tones as you. I have a fender American player humbucker guitar and a Boss 50 Katana amp. No matter what setting i use on the amp, my guitar tone does not match yours which i love.
    What amp do you use ? … or do i need an effects pedal for my amp and or a different guitar?
    David from Michigan.

  51. Michael J says

    G’day Brian,
    An ear is a God given gift, Ok! And I am so very thankful for what I can do.. But what you are doing on Active Melody is so inspirational.
    Your ability to teach , and your talent to create are such a terrific motivational experience to not just me, but to all Active Melody members .
    My ninth year as a Premier Member and can’t wait for what’s next.
    M.J. , Kilmore, Australia.

  52. nostril says

    Love this lesson! They say the bass player has got it covered. But I’m that guy so I play high then try to play low to cool it up a little .So any low string idea’s are welcome site. Everyone teaches the high stuff. Any lessons on Low sting bends would be cooler. Okay

  57. Robin D says

    Really love this lesson Brian, as usual. Question though – in the video lesson and tab, you don’t give an ending to the piece. I suppose by this point I should be able to improvise and ending, but can you give us one?

    Thanks!

  66. Steve L says

    I’ve dabbled in some of the lessons, but this one really caught my interest. Not all that hard either and sounds cool too. Would love to see a few more lessons in this style, great stuff!

  67. Michelle T says

    Came across this lesson in the archive and really enjoy it. Thank you for including the details on the effects and amp used. I was able to dial in an equivalent tone on my Fender Mustang LT25. Great lesson!

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